Dammit I love these guys, post-game celebration earned. Being pissed off at them during the game, is just like wanting to see your kids succeed and live up to full potential. They have done that at a high level over the last few years with less than most programs. Now let's go whip some A$$ in a bowl game.
Illinois 20, Northwestern 13 Postgame
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Lunney can go mad scientist sometimes with crazy plays but overall, he ran the offense well. Luke hasn’t been right the last few games. Laughery being hurt throughout the season hurt as he and Valentine are a solid tandem. What concerns me about next year is that none of the backup linemen were good enough to replace or push or OL. With staff changes, Bret will fix these issues.
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
i am serious. we had a top 10 qb nationally, which probably won’t happen again for a long time. instead of playing to that obvious strength, last night in the second half when we absolutely need a first down we call run plays up the middle over and over that continue to expose our weaknesses (the OL). it’s not that difficult. a high school OC schemes to mitigate weaknesses and play to strengths. BL wasted LAs talents this year
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lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Lunney took Luke who got recruited over at Ole Miss and turned him into one the top 10 QBs nationally and he wasted Luke’s talent?
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
this year, yes, I feel that BL wasted Luke’s talent.
Here’s to walk-ons everywhere who believe in themselves when few others will.
Chuck Nuggets
Dip your nuggets in my staff source sauce.
I said it in the post you quoted: "Did I want more this season? Sure."
I wanted more. I hoped for more. But 8-4 with a shot at 9-4 is never going to be a disappointing season to this Illini football fan.
I'm not saying you or anyone else is claiming it is, but this season is in no way a failure. It is yet another successful foundation block in the rebuilding of the Illini football brand.
Congrats on a successful 2025 football season, Illini fans.
Yes if he had called the defense like that all year we more than likely end up 12-2 and would be talking about our playoffs placement.
The issue was the line. Now if I was Lunney I'd probably have started dialing up more hot routes and quick developing plays along with screens and dump offs. The problem is, even with dump offs, our linemen weren't able to get a hand on the D to knock their arms down. Screens similarly just didn't really work as not only did our OL not put a hand on anyone, they also whiffed their blocks on the second level so linebackers could run in unblocked to clean it up. So I guess that leaves dialing up slants and sneaking the TE out, both of which we should have utilized more.
That all said, it all came down to our OL woes this year. Including subpar snapping screwing up what miniscule timing we were capable of from a blocking standpoint. And I think even with those issues Luke shined. Shame our experienced senior linemen regressed to the point of being unable to block anything for large stretches. And that’s a lot more on Bart than Lunney
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
If you blame all the offensive line woes on Lunney, then you would be correct. The way the line got pushed around in the losses, there were no amount of play calls that would have been successful.
I am sorry but this is a real hot take to say we should fire Lunney. If he moves on, that is one thing, but to call for him to be replaced is quite another. I actually thought the offense achieved quite a lot given the shortcomings of the OL and being unable to sustain a running game.
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Five out of five, and decisively. Let’s dedicate NW’s little new stadium next year by taking home the hat!
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
maybe. i don’t see us ever being a top unit under BL, and the second half play calling last night solidified that for me. if BB is fine with average to occasionally above average, then he should stay. does he recruit well? i haven’t seen any suggestions that he is an elite or even above average recruiter either
I'd say Lunney is perfectly sitting in the "good enough to be successful here at Illinois, but not good enough to have big enough offers to leave" spot.
He's good enough for our current ambitions.
Must have meant BM … I know that’s close to L on the keyboard …
I disagree. BLJ was handicapped by horrible blocking schemes. Luke toward the end of the year was frustrated with the way he was playing. A healthy Laughery would have helped greatly. Lunney did what he could with limited resources.
How was Luke's talent wasted? We won 8 games. Two of our losses were to the two best teams in the country. Losing on the road to a good 8-4 Washington team was expected. The only bad game loss we had was at Wiscy. Still, I am very concerned about the Illini's offensive line. Is it poor offensive line coaching? Or are our offensive linemen basically MAC-type level offensive linemen? Also, BB should totally run the defense.
Before Bret came to Champaign this would have been a great season. The expectations and the bar have been set so high this year is somewhat of a disappointment, but thanks Bret 18-0r 19 wins in last 2 years and 11 wins in the BIG is unheard of for the Illini. Congratulations. Now go out and rebuild the O line and the entire defense. Make 2026 even better.
Try to clone Luke!
Try to clone Luke!
I strongly believe your offense is only as good as your GCG are. OT is very very important too but a lot of college QB's can move and you can guard them by making them a read.
Idk what it will take but being able to run up the middle must be a working part of our offense next year. We're big boys let's play like it.
Idk what it will take but being able to run up the middle must be a working part of our offense next year. We're big boys let's play like it.
I suspect our starting QB next season will come from the portal
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